We’re not the typical family who celebrates Valentine’s Day with roses and chocolates. Mainly because I have found this “holiday” tough to celebrate. My father passed away from ALS on February 12th when I was in high school, so I naturally began hating this time of year, as it is a constant reminder that he is no longer living. All of this changed, however, when my children were born.
The saying is true – you never know how much love you have in your heart until you have children of your own. While I still don’t like celebrating with all the cards, hearts, roses, and chocolate, I’ve made it a mission to make sure that my kids know the true meaning of this “Hallmark” holiday. It’s a day to celebrate the love we have for one another and to be grateful for the time we can spend as a family.
Have you ever tried looking up the origin of this day of love? I recently did and found some interesting facts from Wikipedia:
1) Did you know that Valentine’s Day, also known as Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is an annual holiday celebrated in a variety of different countries? It’s origins date back to a Western Christian liturgical feast day honoring saints named Valentinus.
2) One depiction of the holiday indicates that Saint Valentine, during his imprisonment, healed the daughter of his jailer and before he was executed, wrote her a letter signed “Your Valentine” as a farewell.
3) February 14th evolved into an occasion where people expressed their love for one another by giving flowers, confectionery, and sending cards.
In carrying on this wildly accepted, ancient tradition, I wanted to surprise my girls with something special. I don’t know about your households, but in mine, pancakes are just about an everyday breakfast staple. And yes, they’re usually with chocolate chips! So, rather than the traditional circle or Mickey Mouse heads, I was thinking of surprising them with heart shapes! You can pick up your very own heart shape pancake molds from Amazon (and have them shipped in 2 days if you’re a Prime member!)
Now that my kids will be hopped up on sugar, I’ve also planned a nifty craft that we can hang up in our house. Have you ever made those snowflakes with Borax crystals? We’re going to try our hands at making heart shaped ones! Here’s how you do it:
How to Make Borax Crystal Shapes:
Supplies:
~Pipe Cleaners ~Popsicle Sticks ~Yarn ~Glass Jars
~Borax ~Hot Water
Directions:
Step 1: Take your pipe cleaner and twist it into the shape you want. We are making hearts, but you can do whatever you want (corkscrew, snowflake, letters, etc.)
Step 2: Attach each pipe cleaner shape onto a popsicle stick with some yarn. Your shapes will dangle in the borax solution from the mouth of the jar.
Step 3: Fill your jars with boiling water and add about 1/3 cup Borax. Stir to dissolve. Add food coloring if desired to create colored crystals.
Step 4: Place your hanging shapes in the jar solutions and let set overnight. In the morning, crystals will have formed all around your pipe cleaners, and on the bottom of the jar. Remove and place on paper towels to dry.
Hopefully, after the sugar crash and excitement of making this craft, they’ll be willing to take a nice nap for me!
Whatever your plans are for Valentine’s Day, whether you’re the traditionalist or you’re into pioneering a new path, I hope this day is filled with lots of love and hugs for you and your family.
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